Service projects are not only a terrific educational opportunity, but also a perfect venue for teaching your kids compassion and love for others.

Planting a garden to beautify your community, making meals for new Moms or individuals who are unable to move around easily, creating a bulletin board for your home church, helping with the campaign for a local politician . . . all of these are terrific opportunities for your children to gain valuable learning experiences while also learning the importance of service.

I have found that the various service projects our family has engaged in have been invaluable to my children’s education as well as their character development. Not only are they developing basic skills such as gardening, following directions to create delicious meals, artistic ability, organization skills . . . but also compassion, love, kindness, generosity, honesty, humility, and more.

I have watched proudly as my children brought cheer to the elderly not only by sharing their musical talent, but also by spending time with them, sharing their experiences with them, and listening to their stories. I have felt the rush of pride as they served the homeless lovingly without wrinkling their noses or complaining. I watched in awe as one of my children gave up the puppy money she was so carefully saving to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. I have appreciated the thoughtfulness of my daughter, who is always coming up with ways we can brighten someone’s day or go the extra mile to help someone in need. And though I must admit there have been times when because of other obligations I have said “no” to her ideas, she presses on and never tires of finding new ways to be a help.

Sometimes our service projects involve an entire school day and I feel the pressure of keeping up with their studies. Math, English, Vocabulary, Science, Social Studies . . . these can sometimes seem so important. But if I step back and look at the lessons they are learning through their ministries, I cannot help but realize that not only are they learning much more valuable lessons, but they are also gaining a different kind of instruction in those same subjects.

Take the time to think outside the box, to extend your love to others, and to find a need that you and your family can meet. I guarantee you and your children will be blessed!

Some ideas:

1. Visit a nursing home to play a musical instrument or to read to one of the residents,
2. Pick up trash in your neighborhood
3. Shovel snow
4. Rake leaves
5. Plant a garden
6. Collect books to take to the children’s ward at your local hospital
7. “Adopt” a family in need and make anonymous deliveries to their door
8. Knock on the door of an elderly family and ask if you can help with basic projects such as:
   1. mopping the floor
   2. cleaning the screens
   3. mowing the lawn
   4. taking the car in for service . . . the list could go on forever.

   Use the talents the Lord has given you to train your children not only in academics but also in character and service to others.